DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Authorities in Dubai have taken action against a man who exhibited concerning behavior toward tennis player Emma Raducanu during a recent tournament, causing her distress. The incident occurred at the Dubai Championships, where the 22-year-old British athlete found herself confronted by the individual who left a note for her, took her picture, and engaged in actions that were unsettling. This information was reported by the media office of the Dubai government.
During her second-round match against Karolina Muchova, Raducanu was reportedly emotional after spotting the man in the spectator area. At a certain moment, she became visibly upset, standing in tears behind the umpire’s chair. The man, who has not been identified, has been described only as “a tourist” by officials. Despite the distressing experience, Raducanu has chosen to forgo pressing charges against him.
The media office stated that the man has signed a formal agreement to keep his distance from Raducanu and has been prohibited from attending any future tournaments. “Dubai remains committed to guaranteeing the safety and security of all residents and visitors,” the statement emphasized.
Following the incident, Raducanu expressed gratitude to her supporters, reassuring that she would be alright. During a brief pause in the match on Tuesday, Muchova took the opportunity to check on Raducanu and offer her support.
Notably, Raducanu, who was only a teenager in 2022 when a man was convicted of stalking her in Britain, went on to finish her match against Muchova, ultimately losing with scores of 7-6 (6), 6-4. The next day, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) released a statement confirming the situation, mentioning that Raducanu had been approached in a public space by a man displaying obsessive behavior, who was later identified in the crowd during her match.
Following the assessment of the threat, the individual was promptly removed from the venue and banned from attending all WTA events. Raducanu gained fame for her remarkable triumph at the U.S. Open as a qualifier, but she has faced challenges due to injuries since that time.
